"Michael!"
After transforming into the Buddha, Sengoku's booming voice echoed like a great bell through the sky.
Even the surface of the sea rippled from the sheer force of his roar.
At the same time, Garp's eyes narrowed as he charged at the Golden Lion with even greater strength.
Unlike the fury radiating from Sengoku and Garp, Golden Lion's expression at this moment was exactly the same as Garp's just moments ago.
He wasn't surprised at all that Sengoku and Garp—both on par with him in individual combat strength—could neutralize part of the Float-Float Fruit's offensive capabilities.
In fact, those boulders and steel structures had been sent toward them on purpose.
To ensure Marine Headquarters paid a heavy price, he had deliberately dispersed his attacks!
Even though he had come here with no intention of leaving alive...
Golden Lion had not completely lost his sanity.
He had chosen this exact moment—when only Sengoku and Garp remained at Marine Headquarters—to strike.
Because he had spread out the Float-Float Fruit's area of effect, its power naturally decreased.
If those other guys with Logia-type Devil Fruits were here, not only would he probably die here, he wouldn't even succeed in teaching the Marines a proper lesson.
But...
Who the hell is that guy with wings and terrifying white flames!?
When did someone this powerful join the Navy?
"Who is that guy?!"
"A Flame-Flame Fruit user? But the Flame-Flame Fruit doesn't produce white flames like that!"
"And what's with those wings?"
"Don't tell me... Vegapunk created a new bio-weapon that strong!?"
Before Golden Lion could finish muttering to himself, a figure shot out from the massive plume of steam.
It was Michael—the very one who had nullified his last ocean-wave attack.
Michael hovered in mid-air, staring directly at the man known as the "Golden Lion."
Frenzy. Malice. Wrath.
No doubt about it—this man was one of the most dangerous forces on the sea.
Even while caught in a pincer attack from Garp and Sengoku, he showed no hint of retreat.
If not for the double debuff of being semi-crazed and half-dead, there's no way someone like pre-Marineford Luffy could've ever taken down Golden Lion.
Wishful thinking!
But respect for strength was one thing.
Talking trash was another!
"Hey! You crazy old lion! What the hell are you doing throwing massive water bombs at other people's homes!?"
"You must be brain-damaged… Oh wait, you literally are!"
Michael spat.
His contempt for the old lion couldn't have been clearer.
"Michael! You're okay!?"
In the midst of battle, Sengoku spotted Michael safe and sound and finally let out a breath of relief.
At the same time, he began reassessing Michael's abilities.
He had always thought of Michael as an adopted son—someone who had hidden strength, yes, but nothing excessive.
But now...
This kid was already stepping into the top-tier battles of the Grand Line.
Michael... was only eighteen, right?
A thought flashed through Sengoku's mind.
Could Michael be a future Admiral...?
"Old man, Garp-san! You two should be able to capture Golden Lion, right?" Michael called out as he descended to the ground.
"I'm not cheering you on—I'm seriously exhausted... You guys better give me a raise after this!"
"You little brat! Didn't you have plenty of energy when you were just insulting people!? Slacking off at a time like this!?"
Even in the middle of battle, Sengoku couldn't help but grumble at Michael's lazy antics.
Though he complained, deep down he was immensely grateful for Michael's presence.
Truth be told, both Sengoku and Garp had mentally prepared themselves to close their eyes and accept the fall of Marine Headquarters.
If Michael hadn't shown up in time, Marine Headquarters would've suffered catastrophic destruction.
A giant tsunami falling from the sky...
At the very least, half of Marine Headquarters would've been destroyed!
But now, that threat had been completely neutralized.
And with their worries behind them, Sengoku and Garp could finally go all out to take down the Golden Lion.
Both of them were still in their prime—fully capable of capturing him alive.
Besides...
Golden Lion didn't even seem to be trying to escape.
And so, the battle between three top-tier powerhouses reached its climax in the skies above.
Garp and Sengoku coordinated perfectly, not allowing Golden Lion to take even a single step closer to Marine Headquarters.
With their rear guard secured, if the two of them still let Golden Lion succeed in a 2v1, they might as well fall on their swords and beg for forgiveness!
"Hey! Kid over there! Who the hell are you!?"
Even mid-fight, Golden Lion had the energy to shout at Michael.
"Who the hell am I?" Michael folded his wings slightly, watching like a spectator. "Just a no-name Navy Commander, that's all."
"Sheesh... talented and knows how to keep a low profile..." Golden Lion muttered while fending off Sengoku and Garp's attacks.
"You Marines sure found yourselves a rare little gem."
Without waiting for a response, Golden Lion suddenly went all in.
His swords swung wildly.
Countless massive flying slashes engulfed both Sengoku and Garp.
Golden Lion understood.
At this point, words were useless.
Only a fight to the death could satisfy him.
...
The Float-Float Fruit's power was practically unbeatable.
If peak-form Golden Lion wanted to escape at all costs, forget Sengoku and Garp—even if you threw in Zephyr at his prime, they wouldn't be able to stop him.
But the current Golden Lion wasn't here to flee.
He was here to die gloriously.
The word "retreat" didn't even exist in his vocabulary.
This righteous 2v1 battle lasted the entire night.
The sun set.
Then rose once more.
The ocean shimmered beneath the morning light.
And Garp finally clasped a pair of Seastone handcuffs around Golden Lion's wrists.
Of course, that was only a temporary restraint.
For a Devil Fruit user at Golden Lion's level, one pair of cuffs wasn't nearly enough.
There was still an entire Seastone shackle setup waiting.
Michael looked toward the coastline bathed in morning sunlight.
Ravaged.
It was hard to imagine how much worse things would've been if the battle had taken place just a bit closer to Marine Headquarters.
But this was already the best possible outcome.
Akainu and Aokiji had fought for ten straight days on Punk Hazard!
They even changed the landscape and climate entirely!
Half blazing inferno, half glacial wasteland.
In the original timeline, Marine Headquarters had been half-destroyed with countless casualties.
But thanks to Michael's intervention, this Golden Lion incident ended with zero casualties...
A miracle.
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +100 chapters on Patreon tambeerg